The Effects Of Childhood Sexual Abuse Long Term

Studies have shown a clear correlation between childhood sexual assault (CSA) and negative sexual experiences later in life. Of relevance to the criminal justice system, these later forms of sexual victimization include sexual assault and sex work. The relationship between CSA and adverse sexual development is a correlation between two things, not a direct pathway from cause to effect. While survivors of sexual assault are at a higher risk of experiencing these later forms of victimization, this correlation represents a highly complex process involving a wide range of mediating factors and the intersections between them. Any experience of sexual assault is highly traumatic. Survivors of CSA, however, represent a unique population, because their trauma occurs near the start of the human developmental process and therefore alters all development thereafter.

The long term psychological effects associated with sexual assault includes, depression, substance use, anxiety, PTSD, and decreased self esteem (Foa & Riggs, 1993; Resick, 1993). The authors of this article supports current literature which proposes that African American children receives inadequate or inappropriate sexuality socialization and sexual abuse prevention in their cultures and families which may affect their disclosure of sexual assault in adulthood (Washington, 2001;Wyatt, 1992).

This paper reviews several articles that discuss the lasting effects that sexual abuse can have on a child into their adult years. The articles agree that victims of child sexual abuse (CSA) will most likely suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or experience revictimization. This paper will also address the common forms of coping that victims of child sexual abuse take part in. Some research will touch on proper healing techniques for victims of CSA to receive.

Physical: Sexual abuse is the involvement of vulnerable adults that are involved in sexual activities, they were force to take part in. Such as rape or other sexual activities. This may take place in health and social care setting such as care homes, residential homes and the service users own home. Short terms effects may be short term but still have a lasting effect on the individual’s health and well-being, such as sexual transmitted infections for example medication can be taken to get rid of the infection but also can have lasting long terms effect on the individuals which can leave them with irreversible illness such as HIV which will be with them for life. They may

The article that I read was on long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse. The article covers many symptoms that survivors experience as a result of the abuse. Survivors are faced with trust issues, self-blame, and shame. Most of the sexual abuse is performed by someone the child trusts and loves. The effects are many and some that are abused even regress the abuse. Taking that first step to counseling or therapy is the start of the healing process.

“The systematic study of child abuse in the United States began in 1962 with an article called “The Battled Child Syndrome”, the article examined evidence of repeated bone fractures in children. ”(Child abuse) The article led to the range of studies in the United States. Hundreds of thousands of children in the United States alone are victims of child abuse including sexual, physical, and emotional harm. There are many children that get abused today.

“Women with a childhood abuse history are around 1.4 to 3.7 times more likely to be sexually assaulted in adulthood, and a majority (around 59%) of women with either childhood sexual assaults (CSA) or adult assaults have experienced both” (Cloitre & Rosenberg, 2006). Revictimization for prior victims is an important topic in our society. Knowing and understanding the cycle of abuse can help prevent future victimization for such a vulnerable population. “This interest is grounded in evidence that persons who experience one victimization (an assault, a burglary, sexual abuse, etc.) are at greater risk for subsequent victimizations and the obvious merit of interrupting this pattern” (Weisel, 2005). Victimization during childhood creates a

The third distinctive argument is that sexual abuse puts teens at risk for teen pregnancy. When someone is sexually assaulted they usually do not report it in fear of what others may say or think of them. As a child, children are unaware of whats right from wrong putting them at a higher risk to be abused. Under-aged children tend to suffer sexual abuse from someone closer to them like a parent, aunt/uncle, sibling, or even a babysitter. Because children do not know that any form of touching someone who does not consent to it is sexual abuse they tend to suffer from abuse longer. Researchers Boyer and Fine (1992) have argued that the trauma of sexual victimization may harm normal developmental process. As these children grow older and

The effects of sexual abuse are long lasting and follow a person into their adulthood, which causes issues in forming strong and healthy relationships as adults. Furthermore, when involving a child and a parental figure, these issues become even more prominent, as they affect relationships both at home and in the future. Through her collection of poetry, Rupi Kaur expresses her own experience with the sexual abuse she experienced from her father. The first section of Milk and Honey displays how sexual abuse affects the way Kaur views sex and love, as well as the changes in her relationship with her parents. The following sections follow Kaur towards healing and learning to love herself. Milk and Honey presents the negative effects felt by

The historical overview of child’s childhood had always being depicted as nonexistent. Abuse and neglect were part of their everyday day lives. Children were supposed to be as efficient as an adult but yet were limited to the wants and needs of their parents, as they were view as belonging to them. I was not until recently that the maltreatment towards children was broken down into four categories which are physical abuse, physical neglect, sexual abuse, and emotional neglect. On this paper I will be focusing sexual abuse; the long term impact of sexual abuse in the child’s cognitive abilities as well behavior and the overall emotional state and how resiliency plays a roll on the child’s overall adjustment.

Many people can say that they have either a good or a bad relationship with their family. There are reasons that lead up to what a person’s answer could possibly be. Reasons could include the way they were raised, major events in a family’s history, and how they were treated during their childhood. Suchitra Bhandari et al wanted to question how childhood sexual abuse could affect family characteristics and possibly the long-term effects it had on a population of people. Their study was to find a correspondence with how family characteristics and bonds with each other would be affected if someone was sexually abused as a child. The authors also wanted to know if the people that were sexually abused as a child had any long-term effects such as feeling lonely, or having a sexual attitude whenever they were older. A history of child sexual abuse (CSA) has been associated with high rates of psychological problems in clinical and non-clinical populations (Browne & Finkelhor, 1986; Cahill, Llewelyn & Pearson, 1991; Davis & Petretic-Jackson, 2000; Putnam, 2003; Tice, Whittenburg, Baker, & Lemmey, 2001). Child Sexual Abuse can be defined as another form of child abuse in which an adult uses a child for sexual stimulation or actiivities. Every family is different in their own way when it comes to the characteristics. A healthy family relationship provides the support that one may need in a critical time. The authors

Given that this study is looking at multiple variables, it can be helpful to quantify other important characteristics that the participants have. For example, out of the 530 individuals for this study, 84.2 % did not have an offense that was sexual in nature during their juvenile years (n = 446). However, 13.7% had a history of anywhere from 1-6 sexual offenses while they were a juvenile (n = 72). This information was not gathered on 12 individuals (See appendix 2a). Another important variable of this study was identifying how many individuals were victims themselves of sexual assault at any point in their lives. This information was not gathered on 217 individuals. However, of the remaining 313 who were assessed, only 15.7% (n = 83) reported a history of being sexually assaulted at some point in their life (See appendix 2b). To break this down even further, the participants were asked about being sexually abused but only if it happened during their childhood. Out of the 412 participants that were asked about this specific criteria, 8.9% (n = 47) affirmed that they had been a victim of sexual abuse in their childhood, while 61.5% (n = 326) denied this. There were 39 individuals who were assessed but were labeled as experiencing partial abuse. The definition of partial abuse was not clearly stated or explained. These 39 individuals were still included in the study despite only partial evidence (See appendix 2c).

As the internet expands and the United States becomes a more interconnected nation through the use of computers, the conversation of sexual abuse has opened up a bit more. More and more people are discussing the events of sexual assault. There also appears to be a slight increase of support towards victims and the idea of speaking out. However, even if one was persuaded by this, essentially, web based support, there is a portion of untapped victims that, for the most part, are unable to encounter the internet world; children and preteen youth. Within my paper, I will provide a plan to counteract prolonged sexual abuse in youth and children.

Childhood sexual abuse survivors may suffer from body issues including eating disorders, and mental disorders including anxiety and depression. Children may have sexual and relationship problems that affect them throughout their lives. Victims may also suffer from multiple physical effects that are detrimental to health including chronic pain, sexually transmitted infections, cervical cancer and other complications with the reproduction tract. Unplanned pregnancies are a huge concern as well. The long-term emotional consequences associated with sexual abuse can lead to victims engaging in risky health behaviors. Victims are more likely to have unprotected sex, have multiple partners and become involved in prostitution and they are more likely to suffer from substance abuse with drugs and alcohol (CDC.gov “Sexual Violence Consequences”, 2015)

Child sexual abuse has been reported up to 80,000 times a year, but the number of unreported instances is far greater, because the children are afraid to tell anyone what has happened (American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry). Childhood sexual abuse is a traumatic experience affecting the lives of not only the victim, but those close to the victim as well. Many think there is only one person truly traumatized, but in fact, everyone involved is affected. The victim has to deal with their experience the rest of their lives. They may be more at risk for other mental issues as well, including depression. The family involved has to deal with its pain, often causing hardship and discord within the family. This is especially true